The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether Des Moines Public Schools has violated federal employment law by discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin.
The announcement Tuesday, Sept. 30, comes four days after federal immigration officials arrested district Superintendent Ian Roberts, a native of Guyana. Roberts reportedly was the subject of a 2024 order for removal by an immigration judge and lacked legal authorization to work in the United States.
An attorney for Roberts announced Tuesday that he is resigning from the district, effective immediately.
The justice department does not mention Roberts in its announcement, but cites material from the district's website that it alleges may violate federal law. In particular, it claims that the district "requires that its teaching and learning staff match the student population in terms of 'demographics and cultural responsivity'" and also "set specific quotas for increasing "the number of teachers of color' in an affirmative action plan."
Also mentioned as possible law violations are a district staff retention...
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